For 55 years, you could count on CBS to air Frosty the Snowman every holiday season. But in 2024, the network is breaking that tradition. After more than half a century of being part of your Christmas celebrations, Frosty is moving to NBC.
Here’s why CBS made the change and what you can expect this holiday season.
CBS Cuts a Holiday Classic
After losing the rights to Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, the network also announced it would no longer air Frosty the Snowman, ending a 55-year tradition that began in 1969. (ref)
Though details of the rights negotiations remain unclear, it seems that NBC is stepping in to fill the gap. The network has acquired the rights to air Frosty the Snowman for 2024 and will broadcast it on December 5 at 8:30 pm, followed by an encore showing on Dec. 11 at 8:00 pm.
Spanning over Five Decades
Frosty the Snowman is a beloved 1969 animated Christmas special produced by Rankin/Bass Productions.
It first aired on CBS on December 7, 1969, right after A Charlie Brown Christmas, and became a holiday tradition on the network for over 50 years. In 2024, NBC will take over the broadcast rights to the special.
The Adventures of Frosty
Based on the popular song by Walter E. Rollins and Steve Nelson, the special features comedian Jimmy Durante as the narrator, along with Billy De Wolfe and Jackie Vernon as the voices of Professor Hinkle and Frosty.
The story follows children building a snowman named Frosty, who comes to life with the help of a magician’s hat. As temperatures rise, Frosty, the children, and a rabbit named Hocus Pocus must travel to the North Pole to save him from melting.
TV Guide ranked the special fourth on its “15 ‘Tis the Season” list. (ref)
Frosty the Snowman Moves to NBC
As part of a new multiyear deal, NBC has gained the rights to several Rankin-Bass holiday specials, including Frosty the Snowman, which has aired on CBS every year since 1969. (ref)
Both Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman will be shown on network TV this year, but they won’t be available to stream. If you miss them, you can still rent or buy the specials.
NBCUniversal, through its DreamWorks Animation holdings, controls the distribution rights to both Rudolph and Frosty. It remains to be seen if moving to NBC will solve the streaming issue. Meanwhile, if you have a cable login, both specials will air multiple times as part of Freeform’s “25 Days of Christmas” starting December 7.
The transition appears to be part of a broader trend where CBS is losing its grip on traditional holiday specials. In recent years, CBS has seen other classic specials move to different networks.
For example, A Charlie Brown Christmas transitioned from CBS to ABC in 2001 and later to Apple TV+ in 2020. The loss of Rudolph and Frosty further diminishes CBS’s holiday programming lineup, which now primarily features How the Grinch Stole Christmas as its mainstay.
This move brings these classic specials back to NBC and shows how holiday TV is changing, with networks competing for content that connects with viewers during the holidays.
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Martha A. Lavallie
Martha is a journalist with close to a decade of experience in uncovering and reporting on the most compelling stories of our time. Passionate about staying ahead of the curve, she specializes in shedding light on trending topics and captivating global narratives. Her insightful articles have garnered acclaim, making her a trusted voice in today's dynamic media landscape.